Image courtesy of buddytv.com

Variety is reporting that Ken Howard–best known in my house for his roles in 1776 and on The Office, but who also just won an Emmy for his role in HBO’s “Grey Gardens”–has been elected the 25th President of the Screen Actors Guild.  He succeeded Alan Rosenberg, who was apparently a very polarizing figure in the guild, even though he was elected for two terms.

Howard commented that he knows he was elected because he’s moderate, and that he would try to live up to the expectation that  he would minimize the conflict that had been so much a part of SAG.

“Despite the sharp differences that those of us active in guild affairs sometimes have over strategy and tactics, we need to continually remind ourselves that we’re all on the same team, fighting for the same thing — and by pulling together, we’ll only grow stronger,” Howard said.

You get the sense that SAG has been kind of exhausting recently, what with partisanship and differing ideas about negotiating and membership.  But I can see Ken Howard being a soothing presence.  SAG is up for contract renegotiation in 2011, so by that time, he should have had a chance to calm things down, work with other union heads, and help the guild get out of the dramatic mire they’ve been in.